Rick McKinley, Chris Seay, and Greg Holder are right. In their book Advent Conspiracy [click pic for more info] they say, "Many American Christians have decided they can, to put it bluntly, love both God and money." Proof of this can be seen every Christmas. When we spend $450 billion/year each year. That's about $900/family. But what would happen if Christians proactively decided to spend less and give more presence this year? We could start by giving our children or grandchildren no more than three presents. Total. Since that's how many Jesus received at his birth. Or if that's too radical, consider drawing names or giving one less gift than last year. The time and money we save could be poured into local non-profit organizations like Haven of Hope or Serenity Farm.
Talking about giving, CS Lewis said it this way: "I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. If our charities do not at all pinch or hamper us, I should say they are too small. There ought to be things we should like to do and cannot do because our charitable expenditure excludes them" [Mere Christianity, p.86].
Christmas changed the world the day Jesus was born in a cold, dark stable; Christmas can change the world again!!!
Hey Mike,
ReplyDeleteAnother great example of a church recapturing the Spirit of Christmas is Mike Slaughters' Ginghamsburg Church near Dayton, Ohio. Mike reminds his flock, "Christmas is not your birtday, it's Jesus' birthday." And they celebrate by raising massive amounts of money for one of Jesus' huge concerns- orphans and widows- in the Sudan. See ginghamsburg.org/Sudan for inspiration.